CHAPTER II. 



PORT BOWEN—- BOAT CRUISE TO ITS HEAD— WALK TO SHOAL- 

 WATER BAY INTERVIEW WITH NATIVES — FRIENDLY COM- 

 MUNICATION—CRUISE IN THE PINNACE TO WEST HILL. 



Feb. 14, 1843.— At day-light we were off Port 

 Bowen, and at 8 o'clock anchored under Entrance 

 Island. The surrounding country was picturesque 

 in outline ; many ranges of hills, both peaked and 

 round-backed, rose near the coast, and could be 

 perceived far back in the interior. Some of these, in 

 both instances, must rise to a height of 2000 or 3000 

 feet above the sea. They had, however, a brown, 

 dry, and barren appearance, especially near the 

 coast, where a few lines and tufts of pine trees alone 

 relieved the aridity of their aspect. We found the 

 Bramble at anchor under Entrance Island, and at 

 the turn of tide we both weighed, and tried to enter 

 the northern side of the harbour. The Bramble 

 led in, but shortly making the signal for three 

 fathoms, we came to an anchor a little within some 

 small rocky islets off the first sandy beach. We 

 remained at Port Bowen for the rest of the month, 

 during which a detailed survey of the harbour was 



